MATCH SAVING KNOCK: Brian Lara emerged from a slump to save West Indies with a battling hundred in St Lucia yesterday. It was his first second innings fifty since January 2004. (Picture by Brooks LaTouche Photography.)

by HAYDN GILL

in St Lucia

India (588-8 dec'd) drew with West Indies (215 & 294-7)

LESS than 24 hours before Trinidad and Tobago's biggest hour on the world sports stage, the country's most celebrated sportsman proved that he is a true Soca Warrior.

Brian Lara, under the microscope following a string of low scores, battled like a fierce combatant to compile his 32nd Test century that earned West Indies a tense, honourable draw they seemed unlikely to achieve half-hour into the final day of the second Digicel Test against India.

It's been a long time since we've seen Lara buckle down to play with such doggedness, diligence and determination to stave off any attack and he used some unusual methods at times.

On occasions, he batted close to three feet outside the crease and sometimes he batted on off-stump.

His 120 stretched six-and-a-half hours in which he negotiated 307 balls and counted ten fours in what figures indicated was his fourth slowest Test innings.

After a complete wash-out on the fourth day, the contributions of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo were also vital to West Indies keeping the series 0-0 ahead of the third Test in St Kitts, starting on June 22.

On the day, the hosts, trailing by 373 on first innings, however, could have caused a few flutters when Lara was fifth out with 19.1 overs remaining, and it required Denesh Ramdin and Ian Bradshaw to bat out most of the last 45 minutes to hold off the Indians.

The Lara numbers

Quite apart from the resoluteness of Lara's effort, there were statistical values attached to it.

He joined Steve Waugh at No. 3 on the list of Test cricket's highest century-makers and only Indians Sachin Tendulkar (35) and Sunil Gasvaskar (34) remain ahead of the 37-year-old multiple world record-holder.

More significantly, it was his first century in a second innings in more than three years, his first second-innings contribution of more than 50 since January of 2004, and second score of more than 20 in his last ten innings since becoming Test cricket's leading run-scorer last November.

Lucky Lara

As is sometimes needed, Lara did have a few slices of luck. Wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed a leg-side stumping off pacer Irfan Pathan when he was 42, and Yuraj Singh could not hold on to a low, sharp chance at slip off off-spinner Virender Sehwag when he was on 70

The men in black under watch

For the second successive match, International Cricket Council elite panel umpires Simon Taufel and Asad Rauf came under the microscope on the final day.

Inevitably, they had to respond to a host of raucous appeals from the bellowing Indians.

Lara had close to a dozen lbw appeals against him, the most of which were clearly not out watching from a distance.

There might have been one when he appeared lucky to survive, but the one that went against him seemed to be an umpiring error.

With Sehwag bowling his off-spin from around the wicket, he struck Lara outside
the off-stump to a ball that straightened.

Yet Rauf sent him on his away to the disappointment of the small crowd that responded in the next over with a chorus of boos when the next lbw appeal came.

Lara's lieutenants

While Lara was the general in helping West Indies to a draw, two other officers were also at the forefront in successive century partnerships.

Chanderpaul, mixing defence with aggression, stayed with Lara for three hours and looked very assured in making 54 that included six boundaries before gifting his wicket with the worst ball of the series. It was a full-toss from Sehwag which he mishit to mid-on.

Bravo came out to replace Chanderpaul and batted with conviction for almost two-and-a-half hours to hit 47 that included a wonderful straight six before he was prised out by a diving catch by Yuvraj Singh at forward short-leg.

His partnership with Lara was worth exactly 100 and there might have been some benefit from Lara turning down easy singles to keep the strike in the early stages.

The roles of Bravo and Chanderpaul were especially important after Daren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan fell in the first half-hour.

Post-match talk

Brian Lara: "I wasn't concentrating on a hundred. I just thought I needed to bat as long as possible.

"The first two-and-a-half hours before lunch was very vital for us. All in all, I enjoyed the innings.

"It showed me the patience I need to see out the remainder of the series. I'm going to try as much as possible to ensure that I bat in the same way."

Rahul Dravid: "We should take the positive about the two games. We dominated three days in Antigua and four days here.

"The boys should be proud and happy with what they've achieved."